Pneumatically actuated valve controlling apparatus



H. N. RIDER March 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Harry M Fid IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEK H. N. RIDER PNEUMATICALLY ACTUATED VALVE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Jan; 25, 1946 4 Shets$heet 2 Harry M Eider.

IN V EN TOR.

BY yam A T TO/EA/EK H. N. RIDER March 25, 1952 PNEUMATICALLY ACTUATED VALVE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Harry N. Ride/ I N V EN TOR.

,4 7- TOJPNE'K March 25, 1952 H. N. RIDER 2,590,347

PNEUMATICALLY ACTUATED VALVE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BYWV/ ATTO/P VEK i atented lViar. 25, 1952 T A .1. WCQNITRQLLING APPAn This invention were fix nsifwoh id ling one or more fluid; controlya ye'sjsuchasem; ployed in the handlingf and flow ontrol' of liquids h as,p r e ml n lieili a; a

The s e? chi el? 9?. he" in. e .ji e i g-I'll? provision of pneumatically; actuated apparatus for controlling? rudv l e A further i'eei e'fi ee twen es" s ;.t. proi vision of heat respo'nsivemeans for effecting? the operation of fluid control'ya-lve's; v A

A Still u r bi'ee q il env n i sm. provision of pressuremeans idr" Ina ng fluid control valves in preset open or clos edposi tion. I Y

A still further eject ofthQ-irivjentioiifis: the provision of pneurna cally controlld f pressurel actuated apparatus for= opening'or closi g";'p1 1e or more pressure actuated fluid cqntrol valvesl.

The pneumatically actuated valve controlliug apparatus shown and described herein-has been devised to provide automaticifire initiated {op'er ation of oneor niorefluid controlfyalves The fluid control LVELIVBS: with which the pneumat; ically actuated valvelcoiitrollingapparatus em -a ployed are known in the-artand are capable o f sure in the actuating rnechanisinfthereof Such a valve comprises-a body" member defining passageway therethrough and-Bras; a], clappeig mounted therein for closing said passageway; Af

hydraulic cylinder andpiston assembly" is mounted on the valvelbody member and the piston operatively connected to; said clapper;

which is' also spring-urged te either open or closed position. Hydraulic pressure introduced into the hydrauliccylinder and piston-assembly will overcome the spring action] andbpenr close the clapper as the case may-be. --In-th epresent disclosure these valves arenormally spring urged toward closed-position -the hy draulic pressure in thehydraulic cylinder and piston assemblyholding' the clap'p'ers open The flow of material controlled "by-thevalves; also tends to close the clapperyasf-used in this-dis closure.

disclosed in connection therewith and for oper-' ation thereof With the foregoingand other"oujects inwievh which will appear as ;the descriptionproceeds;

the invention resides in the combination-and ar} rangement of parts and the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it

i Z 'ClaimSI': (c1. 127 161) being uridrstood that ch-anges in the precise exnbodi inent I of the -invention-- herein disclosedcan be madewithin thescope of -vw-h'at. is claimed without? departingf'r'omthe spirit of the invention; M l. mu, l.. u v The ijnvention is il1ustrated in the accompanying drawingwhereins Figures lq is: a diagrammatic: illustration. of the pneumatically." actuated valve controlling ap liaratusil J a u 1 ."lrsg 1,1. Figure zliisqanl enlarged cross; :sectional inlanuiewwoftagportion ofithdpneumatiQally actuated val-ve controlling apparatus illustratedin Figure 1. jizxm :r l: r1 14s.; all; Figure. 3 -.;is.- ante la ed cross; sc ticnalr; side levationliof', attention .915 the a pa atus s w in Fi ure r ndlt e i on l ne3 e. of-E u fii l f i: au.:1 ul rsed 91. 5 s c al: plan liQW' 0 end of the fluid control valves illustrated e'jmfer n to ii i'swi g s and es iei le l 1 --;h -;se; n;-i i; hei eum all I strated: inoperative relation, to a paifi of rectio e actuated. fluid control- :valves I01 and i I k li r are manl em loyed; nlth lha dline ina er; desgribedniv ii d s qiib z r hepi j is ca d by the numeral; '1 9 and a; control valve also; in thepipingflfi betweentliereseryoir il-I and the pump 1351s indicatedby the numeral ZUJ -A che avalv'e located-in the piping-1'6 betweeu -the-pump' i=8 and a the Y interiorvalve 2 0 is indicated by the numeral 21 -9; The wheel; valve- 2 permits free fld'wfof fluid-Q pre'ssure from :the ump] 8 r to the 1 reserv' ir =-but-prevents flovvin the--other di- The reservo'ir l-l is rovidedwith a pressure gauge 12 and-the piping l 6 between the valve actuating: portions 12 and l 3 i and the reservoir :1 Lisconnectedswith a lpressure responw;

sive-electricah switch 23 by means ofnasectio'n "T of DiDing IBANU 3 1 1 The pressure responsive electrical switch 23 t ated ang eontrolling apparatus hasrb eenT lI esi r-ev f-T'the,iAtwoo -M rre "typeow she a-art; an ared te to be'c o' d. b loss of oiieratinglpliessurelinithlactuatingl. port ons, (hyclraulic cylinder and piston assent-w bliesl l2 and 13 thereof, respectively. rrhese.

vi o t e; rawin s; intimate mi l 'vrli d rta di piston a e ef J3 poi the. t u di ntro val e 0;-

includes a diaphragm 24 normally flexed upwardly by pressure in the piping I8 and ISA and thereby normally holds a switch member 25 open with respect to a contact terminal 26. The switch member 25 and the contact 26 are so arranged that when the pressure in the reservoir I1 and the piping I6 and IBA is reduced, the switch member 25 will seat upon the contact member 26 and close an electric circuit through a pair of wires 21 and 21A. Also connected into the piping I6 between the valve actuating portions I2 and I3 and the piping ISA, there is a pneumatically operated pilot valve 28. It is connected by means of a section of pipe IBB.

The pilot valve 28, as is illustrated in enlarged detail in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, includes a normally closed fluid valve 29 which controls a communication channel between the piping IBB and piping I60 which in turn communicates with a secondary reservoir 30. The secondary reservoir 30 is provided with a vent 3I and a gauge stick 32 and is connected with the pump I8 by means of piping I6D. A check valve 33 in the piping I6D between the pump I8 and the secondary reservoir 30 permits fluid from the secondary reservoir 30 to flow freely to the pump I8 but prevents flow in the opposite direction.

It will thus be seen that when the pump I8 is operated, fluid is moved from the secondary reservoir 30 into the piping I6, through the check valve 2|, the control valve 20, into the reservoir I1 and through the restriction I9 and the piping I6 into the actuating portions I2 and I3 of the fluid control valves I9 and II. When suitable pressure is built up in the reservoir II by the I pump I8, the pressure will serve to hold the actuating portions I2 and I3 of the fluid control valves I and II in open position and thereby permit the free flow of fluid through the fluid lines I4 and I5. In order that the flow of material through the fluid lines I4 and I can be stopped at such time as a fire breaks out in apparatus such as loading racks which may be in communication with the fluid lines I4 and I5, 2. heat actuated device comprising a pneumatic thermostat 34 is positioned adjacent the fire area and is connected by means of air tubing 35 with the pneumatically operated pilot valve 28, the mechanism of which controls the fluid valve 29 thereof.

Fire occuring in the area supervised by the pneumatic thermostat 34 will result in an increase of air pressure confined within the thermostat 34 and the air tubing 35. pressure will be conveyed by the air tubing 35 to the mechanism of. the pneumatically operated pilot valve 28 where it will cause the opening of'the fluid valve 29 thereof and thereby permit the fluid pressure in thereservoir II, the piping I6 and I63 and the actuating portions I2 and I3 of the fluid control valves I0 and II to be vented by way of the piping IGC into the secondary reservoir 30. When this occurs, the construction of the Atwood-Morrell type valves I0 and II causes the clappers thereof to close and thereby prevent further flow of material through the fluid lines I4 and I5 on which these control valves III and I I are installed. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the opposite action may be obtained and that the Atwood-Morrell type valves are available for opening pipe lines upon loss of pressure from their actuating mechanism. In Figure 1 of the drawings the section of piping I6 is shown in the manner of a The increased manifold for the connection of additional fluid control valves such as I0 and I I.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that means for manually initiating the operation of the apparatus so far described is desirable. In Figure 1 means for such operation is provided and consists of a cylinder 36 including a piston 31 having a manually engageable handle 38 aflixed thereto. Air tubing 35A connects the cylinder 36 with the air tubing 35 so that at such time as the piston 31 is moved as by the manual actuation of the handle 38, resulting compression of air in the cylinder 36 will be transmitted through the air tubing 35A and the air tubing 35 to the pneumatically operated pilot valve 28 and thereby cause the operation of the same and the opening of the fluid valve 29 thereof. As has heretofore been explained, when this occurs, the pressure is vented by way of the piping I60 to the secondary reservoir and the fluid control valves I0 and II are closed.

In the apparatus disclosed in Figure l of the drawings, means is also provided for initiating an alarm upon the actuation of the system, as heretofore described, by either automatic pneumatic thermostat operation or manual operation. Such means includes a pressure sensitive switch 39 having a diaphragm 40 therein, the diaphragm 49 forming one wall of a chamber M which is in communication by means of a section of air tubing 353 with the air tubing A and hence the pneumatic thermostat 34 and the cylinder 36. At such time as an increase in pressure occurs in the air tubing 35, the diaphragm will be flexed sufficiently to close the circuit between contacts 42 and 43 in the pressure sensitive switch 39 and thereby closes a circuit between a pair of wires 44 and 44A.

As disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawings, certain electrical circuits and electrically operated alarms are employed in connection with the pneumatically actuated valve controlling apparatus. The circuits and the alarm devices are illustrated and comprise an operating power source, for example, 6 volts, indicated by the wires 45 and 45A. The pair of wires 21 and 21A, which are controlled by the pressure sensitive switch 23, connect with these wires 45 and 45A to complete a circuit between the wires 45 and 45A and a bell 46. This is at such time as the pressure in the reservoir I1 and the piping I6 drops and needs to be replaced. The pressure sensitive switch 23 will close the electrical circuit through the bell 46 and give an alarm. At such time as the system operates by reason of a fire or the manual control thereof, the pressure sensitive switch 39 will close a circuit between the wires 44 and 44A which connect the wires 45 and 45A with a solenoid 41. The solenoid 41 includes a solenoid operated electric switch 48 which controls an electrical circuit between a wire 49 and one or the other of a pair of wires 58 and 5|. This three-wire circuit, as defined by the wires 49, 59 and 5|, connect with a central station alarm box generally indicated by the numeral 52. A multiple switch 53 is also connected with the wires 44A and 45A by means of lead wires 54 and 54A so that when the pressure sensitive switch 39 is closed, the multiple switch 53 is energized and a plurality of circuits closed by a plurality of solenoid operated switches therein. One of these switches is indicated by the numeral 55 and establishes -a circuit between the wire 54A and hence the wire 45A with the wire 56 and a siren 51. The siren 51 is also connected with amen the. w re 45. The. ot er two. switches. indicat d by he n m rals. 58 and 9 r spec v control airs of wi es 60 a d 6 esp y. which, mayair in the pneumatic thermostat 84- to eigpa-nd.

the valves l9 and II are closed by the actionof the apparatus heretofore described and at the same time the siren 5"| is energized, the pairs-of wires 68' and 6| are 'connectedzin electrical circuit thecirc i ken si d; b iree pe Qf the actuation of the'multiple solenoid switch and the solenoid switch 41 initiates a central'stat-ion i n l e,

the entire operation of the pneumatically actuatedivalve controlling apparatusis dependent upon the operation of the pneumatically-"actu ated pilot valve 28, enlarged detail illustrations of the same may be-seen by referring to-Figures 2 'and'S-of the drawings. In Figures '2' and 36f. the drawings, the housing of the pilot valveis generally indicated by the numeral 28 and the fluid valve portion thereof is indicated by the numeral 29. It will be observed in Figure-20f the'drawings that the valve 29 includes an inlet orifice 62' and an outlet orifice 63. The inlet orifice 62 and the outlet orifice 63 "are connected with the pipes I63 and SC, respectively. The valve 29 includes a valve element 64 normally closing the outlet orifice 63. The valve element 64Jis controlled by an operating arm'65' which is pivoted at a point 66. A gasket 61- closes the area about the operating arm 65 and the pivot 66. It will be observed that the lowermost end of the arm 65 is positioned in operative relation within an opening in the valve element 64' so that the same may be moved back and forth when the arm 65 is pivoted on the-pivot 66.

In normally closed'position, as illustrated in Figure 2; the arm 65 holds thevalve element 64 in closed position on the outlet orifice 63. The arm 65 is held in this'positionby means -of=a depending portionof a detent 61' which: in turn is pivoted within the housing 28 by means of a pivot pin 68 (see Figure 3). The opposite end of the detent 61 is supported by the uppermost end of a lever 69 which in turn is pivoted by a pivot 18 to a portion of the housing 28. The lowermost end of the lever 69 is positioned adjacent an operating pin II which is positioned in an opening in a diaphragm case 12 which forms a portion of the mechanism within the housing 28 and positions a diaphragm across an air chamber so that it may be flexed in the direction of the pin 1| so as to move the same by air pressure introduced into the diaphragm case 12 by means of the air tubing 35. The air tubing 35 extends upwardly through the interior of the housing 28 and passes outwardly thereof through a bushing 13 and thence outwardly of the housing by way of an opening 14, as best shown in Fi ure 2 of the drawings.

By referring again to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the detent 61 is normally biased by a spring I5 to insure the depending finger portion thereof, normally engaging the uppermost end of the arm 65, moving upwardly so as to release the arm 65. When the arm 65 is thus released, a coil spring 16 moves the arm 65 to the left as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, thereby imparting motion to the valve element 64 to open communication between the inlet orifice 62 and the outlet orifice 63 of the fluid valve 29.

In order that the mechanism can be reset for subsequentoperation, a reset lever 11 ispositioned through an opening in a section of the housing 28 and is suitably sealed with respect to the interior of the housing 28, as by means of a resilient asket 18 and" is normally urged outwardly of the housing 28 by means of a. coil spring [9. The innermost end "A of the reset lever is in line with the. arm. 65. When the arm 651s moved by the spring 16 to open the valve element 64,. it will. rest. against the. end "A of the reset. lever 11'. When thereset lever 1-1 is moved inwardly, toward the right-in. Figure 2, it will move the 'arm 65 been into the position illustrated in Figure 2. At the same. time it will cause a tilting member 19,, which is. pivoted to the housing 28 by means of a screw 88,..to. operate as follows. An end. 194 willengage a'cofne-shaped collar 11B on the reset lever. 11 which Will-'elevate'the end 19A of thetilt'e ing member 19 and cause the opposite end 193 to. move. downwardly into engagement with'the detent. 61 and thereby move it into the position illustratedin Figure 2, and simultaneouslypermitthe lever 69 to moveinunder'the-opposite end of the detent 61 and thereby normally sup! port the same in set position. The 'lever '69 is moved by means'of a/coil spring 69A. When this. operation has taken place, the device is reset and is ready for subsequent operationeither as. initiated by the pneumatic thermostat 34; or the manual actuating cylinder 36.

By referring now to. Figure 4 of the. drawings an enlarged cross sectional plan view of'oneof the fluid control valves illustrated in Figurel'l of the drawings and heretofore referredtol-as being of the Atwood-Morrell type maybe seen. In Figure 40f the drawings the valve body. is indicated by the numeral. Hland piping 4 connected therewith. forms the fluid pasageway therethrough for the material controlled thereby. The valve body It) includes a partitionhavlng an orifice 89 therein adapted to be closed by a clap er 8|. The-clapper 8| is normally biased to closed position by a spring 82 engaging .a shoulder 83'on an arm 84 connected to the clapper 8|. A rotatable latch 85 operated by a sidewardly projecting arm 86 normally engages the shoulder 83 and thereby holds the spring 82 in compressed position as shown and the clapper 8| in open position with respect to the orifice 89. The rotatable latch 85 is controlled by a hydraullic cylinder and piston assembly, the cylinder being indicated by the numeral |2 and the piston being of the diaphragm type and indicated by the numeral 88.

A coil spring 89 normally biases the diaphragm type piston toward the cylinder l2 and a connecting rod 98 connected to the diaphragm type piston is pivotally connected as at 9| to the arm 65 controlling the rotatable latch 85. Fluid pressure introduced into the cylinder I2 by way of the pipe I6, as also shown in Figure l of the drawings, serves to hold the diaphragm type piston 88 downwardly and hence results in holding the rotatable latch 85 in latched position with respect to the shoulder 83 and thereby holds the clapper 8| in open position. Venting of the hydraulic pressure in communication with the line l6, as heretofore described, permits the spring 89 to move the connecting rod 98 upwardly and hence move the arm 86 of the rotatable latch 85 thereby permitting the spring 82 to move the rod 84 and close the clapper 8|.

In connection with the description of this valve it will occur to those skilled in the art that the invention disclosed herein is not limited to a valve controlling apparatus incorporating the specific type of fluid control valve disclosed in Figure 4 of the drawings as other similar hydraulically controlled fluid controlling valves are known in the art and capable of being used in the. pneumatically actuated valvecontrolling apparatus herein set forth.

It will thus be seen that a pneumatically actuated valve controlling apparatus has been disclosed'which will efliciently operate automatically at the time of fire to open or close fluid control valves and II on the fluid lines l4 and I5. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the apparatus possesses several advantages not heretofore found in automatic valves. Primary among these is the pneumatic actuating system which may be extended into a hazardous area with no danger whatsoeverof .its causing sparks or fire. The actual valve controlling apparatus is entirely pneumatic in operation and the electrical connections to the apparatus, when desired, may be located remotely of the fire area. In handling petroleum and the various products thereof, it is desirable to eliminate the possibility of fire and the present invention accomplishes this object by relying on the extension of the pneumatic thermostat and air tubing into the fire zone for detecting fire and extending the pressure line into the fire zone for effecting the actual control of the main fluid valves.

It will thus be seen that the invention is advantageously practiced in connection with the control of fluid lines, particularly in fire hazard areas.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A flow line valve and controlling apparatus therefor and comprising in combination a fluid control valve having a, clapper therein and a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly thereon, the said piston operatively connected to said clapper and a source of fluid pressure in communication with said hydraulic cylinder normally holding said piston and clapper in open position, means for venting the said fluid pressure to permit the said piston and clapper to move to closed position. said venting means comprising a pressure responsive release mechanism including a fluid relief valve in communication with said fluid pressure supply, pneumatically actuated means for efiecting movement of the said fluid relief valve and a pneumatic thermostat in' ga fire zone in communication with said pneumatically actuated means for actuating the same.

2. A flow line valve and controlling apparatus therefor and comprising in combination a fluid control valve having a clapper therein and spring means normally biasing said clapper toward closed position, a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly on said fluid control valve, the said piston operatively connected to said clapper, a source of fluid pressure in communicationwith said hydraulic cylinder normally holding said piston and clapper in open position, a by-pass for returning said fluid pressure to said fluid pressure source to permit the said piston and clapper to be moved to closed position by said spring means, a secondary fluid control valve in said by-pass, pneumatically actuated means for effecting the movement of the said secondary fluid control valve and a pneumatic thermostat in a flre zone in communication with said pneumatically actuated means for actuating the same.

HARRY N. RIDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,613,343 Clark Jan. 4, 1927 1,773,272 Loepsinger Aug. 19, 1930 1,843,688 Lowe Feb. 2, 1932 1,909,490 Griffith May 16, 1933 2,196,592 Lowe Apr. 9, 1940 2,298,062 Lewis Oct. 6, 1942 2,349,464 Rider May 23, 1944 2,421,303 Houten May 27, 1947 

